Midwest ski towns offer advantages

Great skiing and good prices without losing slope time to travel

"Down is down," said Duane Elenbaas, a retired businessman from Grand Rapids, Mich. "If you're on the slopes with good friends, it's a great ski day regardless of where you are."

That's an attitude Midwest resorts hope spreads throughout the region this winter. Pitching the advantages of local and regional ski destinations, resorts seek to convince skiers and snowboarders that Midwestern ski travel can deliver world-class experiences in a cost-effective way."Skiing close to home has always been easier and more affordable than heading to far away resorts," notes Fred Seymour, chairman of the Midwest Ski Areas Association. "This winter, bringing the family together at a Midwest resort makes even more sense than ever. It's hard to think of a more affordable or fun winter getaway."

To lure skiers and boarders to their hills, resorts all over the Midwest boast an array of on-hill improvements, upgraded amenities, new programs and deals for the coming season.

Illinois

Chestnut Mountain overlooking the Mississippi River near Galena (815-777-1320; www.chestnutmtn.com), for example, is rolling out the white carpet for those who would like to give snowboarding a try. The resort has teamed with Burton Snowboards to offer a Learn To Ride Program that combines specially designed boots and boards with lessons given by certified instructors. The goal is for beginners to be comfortably linking turns on their first day.

Indiana

Beginners also go to the head of the line this winter at one of the region's premier learning centers, Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg. (812-537-3754; www.perfectnorth.com). With 3,000 pairs of new Head boots, 1,000 pairs of Rossignol skis and 100 Rossignol snowboards, novices will speed to the snow like never before.

Wisconsin

Northwest of Chicago on the Baraboo bluffs above the Wisconsin River, Devil's Head near Merrimac (800-472-6670; www.devilshead resort.com) has added a SunKid conveyor carpet to its uphill transportation. This gives Devil's Head carpets of 150, 300 and 410 feet long, so novices have a progression to enjoy. The resort has cleared some trees and improved lighting for night skiing. For skiers heading to Devil's Head after work on Fridays, the Chicagoland Express package is still a favorite, with an in-room pizza included on arrival.

Also on the Baraboo bluffs, Cascade Mountain near Portage (800-992-2754; www. cascademountain.com) has long been a favorite for expert skiers who aim to tackle the bump haven named Mogul Master. This winter the resort debuts a new Rail Yard Park with stadium lighting and over 20 rails and boxes. There also is a new beginner terrain park with smaller jumps and features.

In Lake Geneva, Grand Geneva Resort (262-248-8811; www.grandgeneva.com) offers a ski and snowboard hill and an indoor water park at the same location. The Mountain Mites program will be front and center this winter, giving children age 6-14 a specialized teaching system for skiing or snowboarding. An expanded retail shop at the Mountain Top will add to the amenities already rated AAA Four Diamond.

After recent on-mountain upgrades, including a high-speed, six-place chairlift and an expansion to 74 ski trails, Granite Peak in Wausau (715-845-2846; www.skigranite peak.com) is unveiling several new amenities this season. Anchored by the new 10,000-square-foot Sundance Chalet, the base area has been augmented by restorations and additions to the historic Tenth Mountain Chalet. Inside, the bar has been moved from the lower level to the upper level to take advantage of large windows overlooking the ski hill. Outside, a huge textured color-concrete patio with seating for 400 has been added between the chalet and the slopes, complete with overhead heaters and an outdoor grill.

More than 20 nearby facilities in Wausau are offering lodging options this winter.

Michigan

For Chicago skiers looking to travel a bit farther up the western side of Lake Michigan, a foray into Big Snow Country in Michigan's Upper Peninsula will result in the discovery of a whole new ski resort entity. The three resorts around Ironwood in the western UP have merged; Indianhead (800-346-3426; www.indianheadmtn.com) has purchased Big Powderhorn (800-501-7669; www.big powderhorn.net) and Blackjack (800-848-1125; www.skiblackjack.com). When completed, the merger will give the three combined resorts a total of 18 chairlifts and 76 ski trails, all skiable via a seamless one-ticket package. In the immediate future, the Hill Hopper combo lift ticket for Indianhead and Big Powderhorn is still the best deal.